Tag Archives: Planting

Back in March this year I was approached by Rachel Morgan from Bakker’s marketing department and asked if I wanted them to run a competition for my many Twitter followers. Not really sure what it would involve I said why not. Little did I know how successful it would be for Bakker, myself and the lucky winner of the £50 box of goodies, Jane Rogers!

I’ve been gripped by bulb fever this autumn, buying packets of dwarf daffodils, tulips, iris etc as if they were going out of fashion. I’m determined that come springtime, I won’t regret being stingy back in the autumn – and end up buying pots of bulbs in flower at a much greater cost than purchasing dry bulbs in the autumn.

But there’s a problem with bulbs… there won’t be anything much …Read More

Whether you have acres and acres of countryside, or a high-rise balcony, we all have space to grow our own strawberries! As the nation’s favourite fruit to grow, you really are missing a trick if you haven’t given them a go!
I inherited mature strawberry plants in my little village garden, they are now hardy enough to withstand the snow and take no maintenance at all. I have decided that this …Read More

I wanted to continue the theme of planting a Bakker Spalding rainbow and thought it would be fun to plant the colours of the tulips in their respective coloured pots.
Now I can’t wait for spring (not that I want to wish my time away) and see the rainbow in its glory.
As I was minus a spare blue pot I utilised a black one and used my blue shoe cream to …Read More

The people have spoken! The votes have been counted for Bakker Spalding’s online poll on which varieties should be included in their new, exclusive rainbow bulb collection. Thousands upon thousands of you voted and it’s clear that this year, everyone’s dotty about tulips! So, who are the winners, and how can you get the best from them in your garden?

RED: Tulip ‘Case Grande’ Wow! What a start to the rainbow. This …Read More

I love nothing more on a bank holiday than to get out in my garden! I am really hoping for some good weather ( not too hot, please ) as I have a list as long as my arm and really need to complete it by September.
I still have salad items on the veg plot, this year the tender sweetcorn from plant to plate in minutes, warm sun-ripened tomatoes and …Read More

What more can you ask for on a Saturday afternoon? Adrian and I have been planning a get together for planting and today’s the day. Our order from Bakker Spalding has arrived and we are eager to get started. Such a great feeling to get back into the gardening mode after the cold winter days.
Sleeves already rolled up but before we start we’ll spend a little time drinking coffee and …Read More

Midsummer’s day came and went, much like England’s world cup dreams. For me the sadness of shortening days is tempered by the joy of much less chat about football. Now we’re in high summer; it’s all about the long drowsy days of Wimbledon (much more civilised) and – even better – most of the season’s hard work is done on the allotment. There’s lots to pick – everything’s growing apace …Read More

Slugs, the one thing all gardeners can agree on. The bêtes noires of borders from Brighton to Birmingham? Right? Well, no, actually…
Here in the UK we have around 30 native species of slug, of which only four are pests. Who’d have thought these slimy critters came in so much variety? Some such as the almost-pretty leopard slug don’t eat live plants at all, instead preferring to eat other slugs and …Read More

Years ago, working on a programme about superfoods for BBC Gardeners’ World, I was shocked to learn just how deeply our notion of which foods are best for us is shaped by the food industry, rather than scientists. Blackberries, for example are hugely good for us, packed full of vitamin C, antioxidants and fibre – yet we routinely overlook them for blueberries, which have been more heavily marketed.
Whatever the rights …Read More